Judea and Samaria

Barak, Bibi Reach Out to Left, Right

PM Netanyahu reassured Israel's political right on Thursday as Defense Minister Barak sought to calm the left.

Judea and Samaria Leaders Prepare to Fight the Freeze

Community leaders from across Judea and Samaria met Thursday to plan their battle against a building freeze.

Hareidi-Religious Join Outpost Struggle

A new Jewish outpost has been built near Modiin, this one by members of the hareidi-religious community.

Barak-Bibi Building Freeze Puts Chill on Yesha Schools

Building freeze: Children in urban cities returned to well-equipped schools while thousands of Yesha kids make do with makeshift structures.

Barak: Committed to Destroy Outposts

Defense Minister Barak tells Judea and Samaria leaders that he's committed to destroying outposts, they demand freedom to build.

Key Yesha Leader Boycotts ‘Farcical’ Meeting with ‘King’ Barak

Gershon Mesika, chairman of the Shomron Regional Council in Samaria, boycotted a Yesha meeting with Barak: “This is a political farce.”

Businessmen Bust Yesha Building Freeze Myth

The so-called building freeze in Yesha affects homes and schools but not businesses. Barak has stopped “natural growth” but not business growth.

Yaalon: Jews Must Live Everywhere in Israel

Deputy PM Yaalon says Jews should be allowed to live anywhere in the land of Israel, calls on government to authorize Jewish building.

IDF Evacuates Caravan in Major Settlement Bloc

The IDF took a far-reaching step Wednesday when it evacuated a caravan from a community west of the separation barrier at a large Jewish town.

Hershkowitz: Foreign Pressure Over Outposts 'Unacceptable'

American and European pressure on Israel to dismantle so-called illegal outposts is “unacceptable,” says Minister Daniel Hershkowitz.

Jews to Pay for Their Own Expulsion?

IDF prosecutors recommend that Jews being evicted from unauthorized outposts be forced to pay the costs of their expulsion.

Yesha Towns Promoted for UN Prize for ‘Human Settlement’

Towns in Judea and Samaria, branded as “settlements” by the world community, are being suggested for the UN Habitat Prize on “human settlement.”

Jewish Start-Ups Under Threat of Destruction

Barak: Destruction of outposts will happen soon. Shomron Residents Council establishes a Youth Council to help buttress Judea/Samaria settlement.

600,000 Jews in Yesha, Eastern Jerusalem May Stymie US Plans

The move to Yesha and Jerusalem continues to outstrip growth elsewhere and is a further obstacle to US policy that “settlements are illegitimate."

IDF Ignores Threat of Celebratory Gunfire, Yesha Jews Say

Jews in Judea and Samaria are used to hearing celebratory gunfire from Arab towns. The 'festive' fire can be dangerous, some warn.

Olmert to Obama: Get Off Israel’s Case

Olmert wrote in the Washington Post that Obama’s demand for a Yesha building freeze is a mistake. “Why did the PA reject peace offers?” he asks.

Obama Reaches Out to Jews, Excludes Pro-Yesha Zionists

President Obama, worried over criticism from Jewish supporters, has invited Jewish leaders for a talk but has excluded major pro-Yesha groups.

US Denies Report of Compromise on Homes for Jews in Yesha

The State Department denied an Israeli media report of an agreement to build 2,500 homes for Jews in Yesha in return for a subsequent freeze.

EU Apologizes for Anti-Yesha Remarks

The European Union has apologized to Israel for accusing the Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria of causing economic strangulation for Arabs.

Israel Slams EU for Claiming Settlements ‘Strangle PA Economy’

The government strongly condemned the EU for alleging that a Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria is “strangling the PA economy."

Obama Turns to Pope to Back Mideast Plan

U.S. President Barack Obama is turning to the Pope to back his vision of a new Arab state on all of Judea and Samaria and eastern Jerusalem.

Israel ‘Fed Up' with US Declarations against Yesha

“Settlements, settlements, settlements” has been the Obama mantra since he took office. The Netanyahu gov't is “fed up,” a senior official said.

Is Israel Negotiating with US or with PA?

Talks between Israel and the PA for a new Arab state have turned into a dialogue with the US. An American reporter asked, “What is the real goal?”

Terrorism Down, American Pressure Up: IDF Removes Checkpoints

Security officials talk, US exerts pressure and IDF cuts back Judea and Samaria checkpoints - 60% since last year. Residents are concerned.

Obama’s Plans for PA State Stuck in Neutral

Mitchell and Netanyahu abruptly cancelled a meeting for this week in order to “clarify issues.” Mitchell will try again with Barak next week.

Clinton vs. Lieberman in Bare Knuckles Fight over Yesha

Clinton held no punches and told Lieberman at a news conference, “Stop the settlements.” Lieberman, who lives in Yesha, replied, “No way.”

Ambassador Oren: Court Would Back Jews Building in Yesha

Michael Oren, Israeli envoy to the US, says the government cannot legally halt Jews from building in existing Yesha communities.